MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Local GOP prepares for change

New leaders to emerge from convention

READ MORE

At a glance

The Forsyth County Republican Party county convention will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. It will be held in the east cafeteria at South Forsyth High School. The event is open to the public, however only delegates may vote for party officers. Delegates must bring photo identification and must be registered or in the registration line by 10 a.m.

The face of the local Republican Party will change Saturday when delegates elect a new chairman during the party’s county convention.

The event, which will be held at South Forsyth High School, will also result in new party rules, resolutions and the election of delegates to the district and state conventions, said current chairman Ethan Underwood.

Underwood said he decided not to pursue another term after four years as chairman.

“I’ve enjoyed doing it,” he said. “I just think it’s time to get fresh blood in there and see if we can grow the party further.

“We need to pick our leaders who are going to be guiding us and determining our strategy in the 2014 elections and, really, beyond … we can’t just keep working from election to election.”

Underwood will serve as chairman of the nominating committee and will be interviewing candidates for all offices, including first vice chair and corresponding secretary.

The committee will then make a recommendation before delegates elect the new officials.

Some candidates running for the party offices have announced their candidacy, while others could do so during Saturday’s convention.Those with opposition will be allowed to speak to delegates before they cast votes.

In addition, District 7 U.S. Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Lawrenceville, will be the event’s keynote speaker.

“I think people are really soul searching as to where the Republican Party goes from here,” Underwood said. “We’re very, very strong in Georgia and in the South … but I think people are coming to the realization that we’re having a hard time winning a national election.”